Categories - American Powerboat Racing Association

FEATURED CLASSES

Explore APBA’s Featured Powerboat Racing Hulls

INBOARD

When you hear the roar of automotive engines and catch a glimpse of giant rooster tails, chances are pretty good that inboards are on the water. Inboard racing classes include both runabouts and hydroplanes that are fast, fun and LOUD. Classes span from wild Jersey Speed Skiffs (70mph) to supercharged 1,500 horsepower Grand Prix Hydroplanes (170 MPH). Inboard racing classes consist of both Runabout and Hydroplane classes. You can tell a boat’s class by the letter(s) next to the boat number.

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OFFSHORE

APBA Offshore racing features some of the biggest and fastest boats around. These Mega-horsepower catamarans and V-hulls are capable of speeds up to 180 MPH. The teamwork and professionalism of Offshore racing make it a class act and a thrill for spectators. Typically, a team of one driver and one throttle man battle the wind and waves of the world’s toughest race courses.

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TUNNEL BOAT

Commonly known as tunnel boats, the hulls, built from composite materials or wood, are designed to ride on a cushion of air when the boat reaches plane. The racing craft is lifted just above the water by forcing air underneath the bottom and trapping it between the outside sponsons (think catamaran hull design). This surface-skimming ride and the incredible horsepower-to-speed ratio push Newton’s fundamental law of gravity to the outer limits, giving the driver an unparalleled aerodynamic experience.

EXPLORE TUNNEL BOATS

HYDRO

Hydros ride on a cushion of air; the boat contacts the water’s surface on two sponsons (projections) and the propeller. The design is generally unrestricted, challenging those who wish to experiment in boat design and construction.

EXPLORE HYDRO

RUNABOUT

Runabouts have certain restrictions, like minimum lengths. While there is great variety in runabout design, generally they have a flat riding surface, tapered to a point in front, and do not channel air under the hull.

EXPLORE RUNABOUT

V-HULLS

V-Hull race boat hulls are specifically designed to deliver exceptional speed and agility on the water. These hulls feature a distinctive V-shape, characterized by a sharp entry point at the bow that gradually tapers to a narrower and flatter shape towards the stern. This unique design allows the boat to cut through the water with reduced resistance, resulting in enhanced performance.

EXPLORE V-HULLS

JETBOAT

A jet boat uses an onboard internal combustion engine to power a water pump, called a jet pump. This pump sucks in water from the lake, river, or sea and forces it out as a high-pressure stream through one or more nozzles. The water intake is typically at the front or center of the boat.

MOTO SURF

MotoSurf racing is known for its environmental friendly approach thanks to advanced technologies used in the motorized surfboards. The combustion engines categories race craft are designed according to latest technologies and the main manufacturer in the championship – JetSurf – is even CE and EPA certified and is officially classified as least emission personal water craft.

The electric powered category is raced on fully electric powered motorized surfboards with zero local emission impact. The electric powered category is the very first fully electric powered racing class in powerboating world.